Mandatory Media

In a special Easter episode, Bret takes us through George Herbert's Prayer One, a wonderful sonnet that meditates on the various aspects of prayer. The conversations spans the Vatican's telescope, battering rams, and even the Eye of Sauron.

This episode we cover Pixar's Toy Story, a classic and historic 3D animated film from 1990. We talk John Lasseter's complicated legacy, the weirdness of early 3D animation, and the stark reality of being a sentient toy in Pixar's world.

Seth leads the guys through Rear Window, one of Hitchcock's masterpiece films from 1954. They talk Grace Kelly, the voyeurism of cinema, Hitchcock's trademark suspense, and more!

This week the gang is covering Erin Shields' play Paradise lost, a feminist reinterpretation of Milton famous epic Paradise Lost . We cover stage directions, Milton's unique writing habits, and the nature of Satan through the modern lens.

Join us for a deep dive into the classic Studio Ghibli film Pricess Mononoke. We talk maggoty boars, magical curses, and the film's (not so hidden) themes.

Seth brings us back into the zany Sci-Fi days of 1960s Japan with the classic Godzilla film Destroy All Monsters. We talk guys in rubber suits, Sci-Fi camp, and the wonderful experience of films across cultures.

In this Epiphany special episode, Bret takes us through William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. We cover famous lines we didn't know were from the play, the unraveling of Marvolio, and wordplay that stands the test of time.

Bret, Seth, and David talk about the enchanting, wonderful, and iconic film, The Muppet Christmas Carol. They talk behind the scenes, Dickens' original novella, and which Muppet should be President.

Seth, David, and Bret jump into a review and analysis of Wes Anderson's latest film, Asteroid City .

Bret takes us on a unique journey through Robert Browning's The Heretic's Tragedy, a delightful medieval poem satirizing a public burning.

The crew jumps into the highly divisive 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We talk force ghosts, Harrison Ford's hatred of press tours, the Star Wars fandom's hatred of their own movies, and much more!

Seth takes us on a journey through Bram Stoker's Dracula , the movie adaptation of ... Bram Stoker's Dracula ? Discover this wild Francis Ford Coppola film from the 1990s that's chock full of bizarre acting choices, immaculate vibes, and oddly shaped hairpieces.

Bret, joined by Seth and David, takes a dive into three of Christina Rossetti's poems. Poems covered are "Amen," "Uphill," and "Passing Away"

Join your three magical hosts on a fun journey through Ursula Le Guin's classic fantasy novel A Wizard of Earthsea .

Take a step back into cinematic history as the gang investigates Agnes Varda's French New Wave Classic Cleo from 5 to 7.

Bret takes our other two hosts on a whirlwind journey through Edmund Spenser's retelling of the gardens of Adonis (found in book 3, canto 6, Stanzas 29-50 of the Faerie Queene). Enjoy Bret's informed analysis and David and Seth's uninformed confusion as we dissect, analyze and discuss this wonderful poem.

David takes Seth and Bret along for their first foray into the world of video games by discussing the hit comedic browser game from 2012, Frog Fractions .

Your intrepid hosts Bret, David, and Seth discuss the play Red by John Logan.

Bret, David, and Seth examine and discuss the John Keats' Ode to a Nightingale.

Bret, David, and Seth dive into Hunt for the Wilderpeople, the 2016 film directed by Taika Waititi.